Great tip about the tape. I was going to use spray on chrome paint on my tail lights
H2OSB
DUNGBTL Build
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H2OSB
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2022 8:13 pm
Re: DUNGBTL Build
I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals, I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants. 
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DUNGBTL
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2022 7:49 am
Re: DUNGBTL Build
Here’s some more interior stuff I did this summer…
When you remove the padded dash from a ‘71-‘72 SB, you’ll find that the grab handle no longer fits flush up against the steel dash underneath. It’ll still bolt up, however without the thick padded dash openings, the ends are exposed and the trim pieces are not mitered to fit the ‘bull nose’ of the dash. My OCD would not allow this to stand.
You’re probably asking, “why not just delete the grab handle and weld the holes shut like you did on the rest of the dash?” Well, my wife loves the old school grab handle and wanted me to keep it…and as you all probably know, what the wife wants…”yes dear…”
I tried trimming the OEM end covers to fit…not bad, but I wasn’t completely happy w/the fit. They fit loose and could easily move around. No bueno. I stewed on this for a few days before a solution came to mind. How do you capture the contour of a 3D shape? The more modern home builders around here probably take their 3D scanner and scan the dash bullnose, download to SolidWorks (or similar), draw up the trim pieces to fit the shape, fire up their 3D printer and print them out. A little sanding, some filler…DONE! Mine is a simple shop and I use simple tools. The most modern tool I own is probably my ‘digital’ MIG welder.
I had used a standard multi leaf contour copier to capture the profile of the dash when I tried carving the original ends. My brain, during its downtime, had expounded on this concept and presented to me, during my waking hours, this idea… I used bamboo cooking skewers to make a pin-profiler on the ends! Hand sanded each one of the ‘pin’ ends to fit flush against dash. I used ‘rubber bands’ made from cut up butyl bicycle inner tubes (btw, they make the best rubber bands…super tough!) to apply ‘hoop tension’ to the pins, slipping each hand shaped pin in place, one after another. Yes, it did take some time.
I super-glued them in-situ, then covered the mess w/epoxy resin. Using a little body-filler, primer and lots of sanding…I had tight fitting ends to my grab handle! To freshen up the 51 yr old handle, I covered it w/shrink tubing. After letting the super-glued, epoxied, bondo’d, primed end caps cure for a couple weeks, I shot them w/SEM Trim Black.
I guess I didn’t take any pics of the final product…it’s all carefully packed away for future installation…but I’m pretty pleased with the outcome! Looks factory fresh!
Cheers,
J.
When you remove the padded dash from a ‘71-‘72 SB, you’ll find that the grab handle no longer fits flush up against the steel dash underneath. It’ll still bolt up, however without the thick padded dash openings, the ends are exposed and the trim pieces are not mitered to fit the ‘bull nose’ of the dash. My OCD would not allow this to stand.
You’re probably asking, “why not just delete the grab handle and weld the holes shut like you did on the rest of the dash?” Well, my wife loves the old school grab handle and wanted me to keep it…and as you all probably know, what the wife wants…”yes dear…”I tried trimming the OEM end covers to fit…not bad, but I wasn’t completely happy w/the fit. They fit loose and could easily move around. No bueno. I stewed on this for a few days before a solution came to mind. How do you capture the contour of a 3D shape? The more modern home builders around here probably take their 3D scanner and scan the dash bullnose, download to SolidWorks (or similar), draw up the trim pieces to fit the shape, fire up their 3D printer and print them out. A little sanding, some filler…DONE! Mine is a simple shop and I use simple tools. The most modern tool I own is probably my ‘digital’ MIG welder.
I had used a standard multi leaf contour copier to capture the profile of the dash when I tried carving the original ends. My brain, during its downtime, had expounded on this concept and presented to me, during my waking hours, this idea… I used bamboo cooking skewers to make a pin-profiler on the ends! Hand sanded each one of the ‘pin’ ends to fit flush against dash. I used ‘rubber bands’ made from cut up butyl bicycle inner tubes (btw, they make the best rubber bands…super tough!) to apply ‘hoop tension’ to the pins, slipping each hand shaped pin in place, one after another. Yes, it did take some time.
I super-glued them in-situ, then covered the mess w/epoxy resin. Using a little body-filler, primer and lots of sanding…I had tight fitting ends to my grab handle! To freshen up the 51 yr old handle, I covered it w/shrink tubing. After letting the super-glued, epoxied, bondo’d, primed end caps cure for a couple weeks, I shot them w/SEM Trim Black.
I guess I didn’t take any pics of the final product…it’s all carefully packed away for future installation…but I’m pretty pleased with the outcome! Looks factory fresh!
Cheers,
J.
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H2OSB
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2022 8:13 pm
Re: DUNGBTL Build
You, my friend, are a mad man (in a good way) Brilliant! I would have gotten one of those corner contour things flooring pros use. Your method is more elegant and effective...and cheaper.
H2OSB
H2OSB
I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals, I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants.
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DUNGBTL
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2022 7:49 am
Re: DUNGBTL Build
Inspired by the Uber rare 1968 911R (only 20 ever produced)…
…I made a flip-over deck lid for my “1302R”!
This eliminated all the hinge/spring nonsense (~5 lbs worth) and makes engine access so much easier. I used reproduction 911R hinges which I modified to fit the beetle deck lid and opening. I also made back-up doublers for added strength.
10 pic limit hit! To be continued…
10 pic limit hit! To be continued…
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DUNGBTL
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2022 7:49 am
Re: DUNGBTL Build
1302R Deck Lid continued…
To complete the 911R tribute, I used reproduction 911RSR hood pull-down latches. I also made doublers for this install too. I had to shape the latch brackets and doublers to match the curvature of the lid. …and I made a lid latch “delete”. If this was a real Porsche, you’d have to pay extra for this delete! Good times!
J.
To complete the 911R tribute, I used reproduction 911RSR hood pull-down latches. I also made doublers for this install too. I had to shape the latch brackets and doublers to match the curvature of the lid. …and I made a lid latch “delete”. If this was a real Porsche, you’d have to pay extra for this delete! Good times!
J.
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